Sealing strip severing machine



June 9, 1953 p. BRODY 2,641,318

' SEALING STRIP SEVERING MACHINE Filed Oct. 24, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

June 9, 1953 D. BRODY SEALING STRIP SEVERING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 24, 1950 9; 'INVENTOR. BY

June 9, 1953 D. BRODY- 2,641,318

SEALING STRIP SEVERING MACHINE Filed 001;. 24, 1950 V s Sheets-Sheet s Patented June 9, 1953 we! may, fllinion, Mass essmm 2120 mm Bmode $0,. Elna, 491mm, Mass worafiomofMasmhusett A neatimoc't berm, 191m, sma1 i%.2s91,$z1 I (o1. eswsesi the present invention relates to improvements maehines for sealing iboxes having covers.

Oneof the objects of the invention i-s'to provide -=a ma-chine of *novel, simple and inexpensive con-- struction for applying a sealing strip or tape to boxes of the type mentioned ins/manner "to-secure the covers thereof in-elosed position so as to prevent opening of the *boxes without mutilating the closure.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a machine of the eharacter indicated which is entirely automatic in its operation.

A further ob'jec't of the mven-tion is to provide a=novel *sealing maehine, whereinthe sealingvistsip settled in' the series to drop a distance s1fifii-, -cient *to =tear "its sealing strip from that applied to next box following in the eycle of operation of the machine.

'One of the "many possible embodiments o'jithe invent-ion is illustrated in "the eecompanyin drawings, inw'hieh:

Figure 1 is "a perspective view of ithe'iaoxclosingand sealing strip applying mechanisms-iott'he Figs. 2 and "2a show a. side elevation of the 'eomplete machine, divided-alongline AA shown both in Figs. 2 and 2a;

liier. '3 is a side elevation of the element for shifting the box 'covers toward closing position;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a roller for completing the closing movement of the box BF and for causing the cover flap :torest on the box ig. is 1a front elevation of the roller shown 'Fie- :4:

Fig. 6 is a section taken pnlineifi of 2.;

Fig- 7 ap pective view of a .row or boxes res-t e p s "t ugh the machme. sh win the elements thereof in successive stages of overs tion;

"Fig. 8 is fa section taken online-t-LB "Of 2, on-sa'laifgerscaleg Fig. is s elevation 29f ithe "stri severin ":portiomof thezmaehinegiand. I

m 2111 a :a session when on iline use-4. 1 mi flew.

:novehmachiae, fformi-ng zthe "fi ihfifist matter of the present iapplieatien for iilgettfirs Eatent, aparticularly :emoient in :sealing iboxes M wf tyipe shown in de'taii in 7 @of the trimmin s, winch :a eiesmg cover mineeid mans mm :of :its edges, "denoted iby the mumexezl .22, to ame :of the sides mt the 320:: flaming lat its zopposite edgem a :flapifl, which bears against side 352 5 mi the ibody, when :t-he zcouer iis iniitsibiosed' position. sidezze isopno'sme to that side :oI 'fthe box 'lbozdy "mi-sch the mower is hinged. i

The improvedimaehinez imiudes *twmsupporting Tmmes 26 =emi eachmo-untedzenilees 2.8 mm tiazames rare i longitudfinal-l-y filmed, fafihe imame ":23 being disposed .isont e! @the :21. Each frame is provided an endless conveyor .29, the width of "wmeh :o'osnesponfis isubstahtialty the :widthsof ithe boxes l ke he sealed. mm -veyers2are=fiisposed aendito fiend injclose pmximity :to mndther iso that whet-boxes are adapted :to travel imam that et the heme ifli eto the cne meunted ionflzhemame Eaohtgoziveyor passes over rollers? andfis operated ina anyneonvenierit marines, star ins'tamze my aeperatively [connecting diheisl'lflffi $1., moiwhiehone roller is .fiXed,' Wifihia rsuitahile source of mes/e13, such as :an electric motennotsshoma.

Referring ix-10w the conveyor 13 associated "with :suwommg :itrame 'suide mils 2-32 iexteml lengthwise of said frame in operativemelmtiondw anfl--laleng the oppesite ilongiturlmal edges of the iipper :aof sat-id momeyor. 21mg guidmfl5 are spaced apart in selistance exceeding the width :of lithe iboxes :sealeli. time upper run :0: said mmveyor inmates in ithe direction .01 mhe :emnw shown in mg. 51 in! the drawings, thereby tn-ans an ns fll t ms emcee mheneonat theifrem; $3 :orzshe mi'ztewand :anfizontputheaeonueynr associated with 'suppm tmg imme 21 "mile homes are aimed, zaitew smother, ween the conveyor with :soover 2H 'ithe 'eef iextendioneitudinaliy :of the mmveyor, ithe sewers :partly e'losed, as shown fine-fig; 1 snd at the Tight-hand en t1 io'f immediately wear or ithe entrame end ef *the fisiloea'ted an izmdli-ned rde'flee'tor M,whieh extenizls betweenend iengitudinaliy- -of guide rails 12, its Pfeent enfi v3.5 lbemg filmed to :.a fumeketfii, memes upencone f whermiis flmand aisfi'earsenfl 3 1- g supqn a bar 38. The bar 38 runs across theasuppersing one set on each guide rail 32.

as the box is being placed by hand on the conveyor. 1

In rear of the deflector 34 is disposed a roller 40, the shaft of which is journaled in one of the brackets 39. This rolleris:provided with a reduced section 4|, the cylindrical face of which The sealed boxes pass onto the conveyor carried by the supporting frame 21, being guided in their movement on the latter by rails 53. Intermediate their ends, the said rails are connected, above the upper run of the conveyor, by a transversely extending bar 54 which is triangular in transverse cross-section, the apex of the triangle being located afl'substantial distanceabove the said upper'run'MIn front of the said bar are located stops 55, carried by a bracket 56 on the guide rails 53. The stops extend from the bracket is adapted to act upon the exposed face of the box cover, to force the cover against the top of the box body, and a flat face 42, acting upon downwards almost into contact with the box tops as said boxes travel along the machine, and the distance. between the apex of the bar 54 and the lowermost edges of the stops 55 is less than the length of an individual sealed box.

The operation of the improved machine is as I follows:

the exposed face of the cover flap 24 'to cause the same to li e against the box side 25 (see Fig. 8) Behind the roller are-mounted upon the guide rails 32 two longitudinally disposed metal frames '43, which, in conjunction with said rails,

carry two sets of vertically arranged rollers 44, These two sets of rollers are spaced apart a distance properly and without undue friction to guide-the boxes in their travel through the machine. On each frame 43 is mounted a spring-pressed angle iron 45, carrying horizontally arranged rollers 46,

which extend. across the supporting frame 26 in contact with the covers of the boxes'traveling under the same and thereby maintaining the covers in their fully closed position, while one set. of the verticalrollers 44 holds the cover flaps 24 against the box sides 25. v

As the boxes pass through the guideway defined by the rollers 44 and 46 andwhile the box covers are held by these rollers in their closing position with the flaps 24 against the'box' sides 25, a sealing strip '41 is applied to the same. This strip is, preferably, made of paper of a suitable thickness and is provided on one face thereof with a coating of adhesive material, which is being moistened while the strip is transferred from :a reel to the box sealing machine, entering the latter through a slot 48 in one of the metal 'frames43.- .The adhesive strip supplying and moistening means maybe of any suitable construction and needs no further description as, per se, it does not' constitute a novel feature of the instant machine. The sealing strip is applied to a box by being extended longitudinally upon its cover flap and the adjacent portion of the box side 25. i

The filled boxes are placed by the operator, one after the other, on the upper run of the conveyor associated with the supporting frame 23 with their covers in partly closed position and with the leading edges 2| of said covers touching the .underface of the deflector 34. As a box is being advanced by the conveyor inthe direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the said deflector shifts the box cover towards and nearly to closingposition, the transverse bar 38 maintaining it in such position in readiness for the operation of the roller 40, which completes, in themanner hereinabove described, the closing operation preparatory to the application of the sealing strip.

Before the operation of the machine is started, the sealing strip must be passed through the slot 48 in the metal frame 43, to be picked up by the first box advancing through the guide formed by the rollers 44 and-46 and to be applied to the box by the set of rollers 44 associated with the The set of rollers 44, mounted on that frame 143- which is provided with the slot 48 above referred .to, serves initially to supply pressure to and hold in place the sealing strip, supplemental means being provided to apply additional: pressure, whereby the adhesive application of the sealing strip to the boxes will be insured. The supplemental pressure applying means comprises a flat spring 49, carried by one of the guide rails 32, and a set ofstiif-bristled brushes 5!] on the guide rail on which the slotted frame 43 is displosed. The brushes serve also to remove any wrinkles and like defects in the applied sealing strip with the --result that the latter is smoothly and uniformly applied tothe boxes. While the boxes travel past. the brushes, they are held down on the conveyor by a horizontal bar 5 I, ex- .tending longitudinally above the machine be,- tween the rails 32 and being secured to abracket .52. he .1atter-.. 1 I

box, the latter, in its continued travel through the machine, is subjected to the actionof the set of brushes 50, which firmly fix the applied sealing strip in place on. the box, at the same time removing any wrinkles and like defects which may have formed in the strip. v

The boxes, connected by the sealing strip, pass then along onto the conveyor on the supporting frame 21. On this conveyor the boxes are automatically separated by the transverse bar 54 and the stops 55 co-operating with the latter. Each box, passing along the supporting frame 21, travels up the incline 51 of the bar 54 (see the box denoted by the character X inFig. 11 of the drawings), and then drops back onto the conveyor, resting first with its leading edge on said conveyor, (see the box denoted by the reference character Y in Fig. 11 of the drawings). As 'theboX drops into the. last-mentioned p-osi-r tion, the portion of the sealing strip between itself and the next box in the series is partly separated, the stops 55 preventing the upward move- "ment of the'rear end of the next box in the series. As the forward movement of the boxes continues, the last box in the series fully'drops down onto the conveyor, whereby the tie between it andthe next box in the series is broken, so that the box is ready for removal from the conveyor.

It-is obvious that, while herein two separate conveyors have been disclosed, a'single conveyor Ph P me efl e P i h uide ne r m t invention. Also, details of construction of the various elements of the machine may be changed within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a sealing strip severing machine of the character described, the combination with a guide-way, of a belt conveyor for advancing a series of boxes connected by a continuous sealing strip along said guide-way, and a stationary transverse bar disposed above said conveyor and extending from side to side of the latter, said bar being triangular in cross section, said cross section including a base disposed parallel to and immediately above the box advancing portion of said belt conveyor, a side joining said base and rising therefrom to the apex of said triangular cross section, and a second side extending from said apex to the opposite end of said base, whereby each box is elevated by said transverse bar in its travel along said guide-way and then permitted by gravity to drop back onto said conveyor for breaking the connection between its sealing strip and that of the box following.

2. A machine for severing sealing strips according to claim 1, including stationary stops disposed in front of said bar and above the box advancing portion of said belt conveyor, the distance between said stops and said conveyor being slightly greater than the height of an individual box and the distance between the apex of said bar and the said stops being less than the length of an individual box, whereby the rear end of a box the front of which rests on said bar is prevented from rising while the next preceding box in the series drops back from said bar onto said conveyor.

DAVID BRODY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,352,899 Johnson Sept. 14, 1920 1,938,654 Braren Dec. 12, 1933 2,090,399 Kondolf Aug. 1'7, 1937 2,236,011 Shock Mar. 25, 1941 2,266,054 Lowey Dec. 16, 1941 2,286,960 Hall June 16, 1942 2,331,275 Perry Oct. 5, 1943 2,440,120 Ringler Apr. 20, 1948 2,444,463 Nordquist July 6, 1948 2,456,059 Grupe Dec. 14, 1948 2,537,464 Holmberg Jan. 9, 1951 

